The brinksmanship is the latest battle as publishers try to fight off news organizations to protect an elaborate publicity campaign around the release date of blockbuster books.

The series is least effective at making the "the greatest generation" more than a catchphrase or the title of Tom Brokaw's blockbuster books.

By not trying to compete for blockbuster books, Farrar, Straus is being realistic.

But with the rise of the blockbuster book, they either lost sight of it or chose to ignore it.

She has made millions of dollars from two blockbuster books, a reality television show and public appearances.

Q: How dependent are you on blockbuster books?

With the high cost of production, Hollywood is in an interval in which only blockbuster books will be easily sold to the movies or to television.

Much of the revenue comes from blockbuster books by authors who demand high advances and might also depart.

"There has been a dramatic decrease in the sale of our blockbuster books," Mr. Shanks said.

Beware of those big blockbuster books.